Process for disaggregating waste materials which contain at least partially reusable elements

ABSTRACT

A process is disclosed for disaggregating waste materials which contain at least partially reusable elements, mainly metals, plastics and cardboard. The waste materials are stirred in water by mechanical forces, large pieces, in particular plastic pieces, are coarsely crushed and soluble elements, in particular cardboard, are dissolved. The metallic elements are separated from the suspension as heavy materials, the remaining coarse solids, in particular plastics, are mechanically separated from the suspension, and the suspended fine solids are separated from the suspension by dewatering.

In the disposal of waste, a practice has been implemented successfullyin the course of the years, whereby the refuse produced by commerce,industry and households is pre-sorted immediately at source. Thispre-sorting essentially involves five categories, i.e. glass, paper,non-recycable tailings, organic wastes and waste matter which hasreusable components. The waste matter which has reusable components isformed, predominantly, by packaging waste and essentially comprises awide range of different plastics materials and composite material,essentially comprising cardboard and paper board which are lined withplastics foils and/or metal foils, as well as metal cans. To date, thereusable components in these wastes were separated on sorting belts,with the components recognized as being reusable, such as, for example,metal packaging, hollow plastics containers, substantial balls of foiland the like, being picked out. The degree of recovery of reusablematerials in a hand-sorting operation is, of course, relatively smallsince it is, in practice, possible to pick out only those componentswhich are readily grasped by a gloved hand.

The object underlying the invention is to provide a process whichpermits a higher degree of reclamation during the treatment of suchwaste matter and results in an improved recovery of the reusablecomponents.

According to the invention, this object is met by a process for thetreatment of waste matter which contains components which are at leastpartially reusable, essentially being metals, plastics materials andboard, in which process the waste matter to be treated is agitated inwater, with the application of mechanical force, whereby large parts,essentially being parts of plastics material, are coarsely reduced insize and soluble components, essentially being cardboard and paperboard, are dissolved, and in which process the metal components, asheavy matter, and the remaining solids, essentially being plasticsmaterials, are mechanically separated from the suspension, and thesuspended fine solids are separated by draining.

The term “waste matter” in this regard includes not only the wastematter in the composition as at delivery, but also in its compositionafter pre-sorting.

The process according to the invention permits a very much higher degreeof recovery of reusable materials than would ever be possible with ahand-sorting operation. As a result of the agitation in water, cardboardand paper board lined with plastics foils and/or metal foils areseparated such that, with an appropriate residence time, the boardcomponent is dissolved and is suspended as fibrous material. As a resultof the exposure to force in the water bath, large-sized packaging;comprising the above-mentioned composite material, but also large hollowbodies of plastics material, such as detergent and cosmetics bottles aswell as beverage cans of aluminium, are broken up.

As a result of the exposure to force in the water bath, it is, on theother hand, ensured that these parts are subjected only to a coarsereduction in size, for example, down to a size of 300 mm. In thisregard, it is advantageous when the reduction in size in the water takesplace in a shearing-cutting manner. In this regard, the only coarsereduction in size has the advantage that it is possible for thesubsequent separation of the coarse solid components from thesuspension, and any possible subsequent processing steps, to be carriedout more conveniently. Depending on the composition of the mattertreated, it is then possible for the separated coarse solids either tobe used directly or, if called for by the subsequent recyclingoperation, to be processed accordingly in subsequent sorting steps. Asfar as the fine solids separated from the suspension are concerned, afactor for consideration is also the degree to which fibrous materialsare dissolved in the remaining suspension, because it is then alsopossible for said fibrous materials to be separated in a subsequent stepfrom the non-recyclable fines, such as sand, dust, organic impurities orthe like. As a result of the preferably shearing-cutting force, metalcomponents, in the form of beverage cans or the like, in the mattertreated are also coarsely reduced in size to a certain degree. Dependingon the agitation method used, it is possible for these metal components,due to their density, to sink to the bottom of the apparatus used inthis regard, and to be withdrawn from the bottom together with otherheavy components, forming the heavy matter. It is possible to makeallowance for changing compositions of the waste matter, by changing theenergy supply for producing the force.

Whereas it is necessary, in order to sort waste matter on a sortingbelt, for the quantities of waste matter to be supplied, if at allpossible, in bulk form and without compacting, the process according tothe invention has the advantage that it is also possible for suchquantities of waste matter to be compacted to a certain extent, because,when introduced into the water, all lumps and clusters are reliablybroken up by the action of the force. Compacting must, however, not beintense to the extent where, for example, metal cans are compressedcompletely with other refuse components disposed within said cans beingfirmly enclosed therein.

Since the composition is dependent, to a certain degree, on the type ofrefuse collection, it may be expedient to provide presorting steps whichthen result in a simplification of the main process.

An advantageous development of the invention provides that the coarsesolids, essentially comprising the plastics components, be rinsed withclean water when separated from the suspension. It is possible for thisprocedure to be carried out, for example, in a screening procedureduring which the coarse solids retained are sprayed with clean water. Itmay be advantageous, in this regard, when the separating or alreadyseparated solids are rearranged under the effect of force, at the sametime as clean water is admitted. In this regard, it is possible for therearranging to be carried out by purely mechanical means, for example byplacing the matter on to a drum screen, and/or by spraying with waterunder pressure, the action of force of the water resulting in arearranging of the solids. It is, however, also possible for the solidsseparated out of the suspension to be placed separately in a water bath,in order to loosen up the solids under agitation and for rinsing saidsolids.

Since, as set out above, the coarse solids essentially comprise plasticscomponents which, however, in practice includes mixtures of allconventional types of synthetic materials, for example polyolefin-basedplastics, vinyl chloride plastics, polycarbonate plastics, polystyrenesand polyethylene terephthalate, it is expedient, according to a furtherdevelopment of the invention, at this stage to carry out at least onesorting procedure in respect of different plastics materials, since aheterogeneous plastics mixture of this kind is virtually not reusableand not suitable for further processing. In this regard, it isadvantageous when the coarse solids are separated in a gravimetricfloatation separation process, according to their density, into at leasttwo fractions. In this regard, it is particularly advantageous when thegravimetric floatation separation is adjusted such that it is possiblefor polyolefin plastics to be separated as the floating matter. Thisprocedure advantageously uses the fact that the difference in densitybetween polyolef in plastics, on the one hand, and the other types ofplastics material mentioned above is so distinct that a practically 100%separation of the polyolefin plastics and the bulk of the other types ofplastic materials is possible, with the result that it is possible forthe floating matter to be separated from the waste matter in the form ofa readily reusable valuable material. In comparison to a sorting belt,which allows only for coarse-shaped refuse components, which areidentifiable by the sorting personnel as polyolefin plastics products,to be sorted out of the charged matter, the process according to theinvention makes it possible to separate virtually the entire polyolefinplastics component from the charged matter. In order to increase theselectivity between the two groups to be separated, it is expedient whenthe gravimetric floatation separation is carried out in a centrifugalfield.

Depending on the separation process used for the fractions of plasticsmaterials contained in the solids, it may be expedient when the coarsesolids are subjected to a further reduction in size prior to beingadmitted to the gravimetric floatation separation process. In the basicbreakdown by agitation in the suspension, a reduction in size of thelarge parts to a size of the individual item down to about ≧300 mm ispossible. Depending on the type of gravimetric floatation separationused, it is, however, possible that this size of the individual items isstill too large, especially for a gravimetric floatation separation in acentrifugal field, such that it is expedient to carry out a furtherreduction in size during which the coarse solids are reduced to a sizeof about ≦30 mm or, in a further comminuting step, to a size of about ≦5mm. In this regard, the comminution is advantageously carried out by acutting comminution.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the heavy matter collectedduring the basic treatment and/or the deposited matter collected in thegravimetric floatation separation, which matter, in each case, containsnon-magnetic metal components, essentially being aluminium, is exposedto an eddy current field, such that the non-magnetic metal componentsare thrown out from the remaining deposited matter, under the effect ofthe electromagnetic field building up. In this regard, it may beexpedient when the metal components separated off are subsequentlysubjected to a rinsing operation.

Depending on the composition and/or depending on whether it is possiblefor the remaining matter withdrawn from the eddy current field to berecycled further, this matter is either disposed of, for example, byremoving it within the framework of refuse incineration, or to be brokendown into further groups, in the event of a high plastics content, as amixed plastics material. This mixed plastics material collected in theeddy current-type separator essentially comprises the syntheticmaterials polycarbonate, polystyrene and polyethylene terephthalate, aswell as polyvinyl chloride. When the polyvinyl chloride is withdrawnfrom this mixed plastics material, because it has a an adverse effect onthe chemical treatment of this remaining fraction, it is then possiblefor this remaining plastics component to be recycled further within theframework of a chemical processing treatment. In this regard, it isexpedient, in further development of the process according to theinvention, that the deposited matter, from which the metal componentshave been removed, is loosened up in a fluidized bed for conditioning,and the PVC component is subsequently substantially separated out in anelectrostatic free-fall separator.

Depending on whether further treatment is possible, it is then possiblefor the PVC-free deposited matter to be used as a plastics raw materialfor further processing within the framework of chemical processing orwithin the framework of conversion processes. Depending on therespective recycling means, it may be expedient when the PVC-freedeposited matter is separated into at least two fractions in a furtherdensity-based separating process, for example in a cyclone or in acentrifuge. In this separating process, it is then possible, forexample, to separate the polystyrenes, while the remaining plasticsmaterials are then disposed of or incinerated as residual matter. It isalso possible, for separating the polystyrenes, to conduct thedensity-based separating process prior to the PVC separation.

The core process step of the invention resides in that the mattertreated is agitated in water with mechanical intervention, therebyproviding a breakdown which makes it possible to separate heavy matter,essentially containing metal components, coarse solids, essentiallycomprising plastics material, and fine solids suspended in the water,which fine solids essentially comprise fibrous material, whereby thecoarse solids, when cleaned, are in the form of mixed plastics materialand, depending on the objective, are either further processed in themixture or, as the separate process steps set out above indicate, arebroken down still further.

It is possible for the main step of the process according to theinvention to be carried out in various ways. A development of theinvention provides that the breakdown of the matter to be treated iscarried out in batches by agitation in a water bath, the duration ofagitation being determined according to the degree of breakdown. In thisprocess, it is possible to make allowance for the fact that thecomposition of the matter to be treated is likely to vary greatly,depending on its source. It is indeed possible that, at different times,charges are supplied which, for the greater part, contain nothing otherthan plastics packaging, with only very few board/foil packagingmaterials. In a charge of this kind, only a short agitation time isrequired, such that it is possible for the solids to be separated fromthe suspension after a short period of agitation. On the other hand, itis also possible that charges which predominantly comprise board/foilpackaging materials, are supplied. Charges of this kind require arelatively long agitation time in order, on the one hand, to bring abouta reliable separation of the foil from the board layer and a breakdownof the board to form a fibre mash.

A further development of the invention provides that the breakdown ofthe matter to be treated is carried out in batches by agitation in atleast two water baths which follow each other, either spatially orchronologically. When proceeding in this manner and when the water bathsare spatially separated, it is possible for the matter to be treated tobe supplied continuously, the breakdown being brought about in acorresponding number of water baths. In this regard, it is desirablethat, in the first water bath, initially only a first reduction in sizetakes place, and the fibre breakdown takes place, also under agitation,in the following water bath. The objective in this process is to removethe main dirt content with the first washing water. The fibrousmaterials are suspended in the second water bath. When proceeding inthis manner, the fibrous materials are virtually free of organicpollutants.

Another development of the invention provides that the breakdown byagitation in water of the matter to be treated is carried outcontinuously in a through-flow. A treatment of this kind is particularlyexpedient when, on the one hand, large quantities of refuse areavailable, the refuse supplied by the collection points being renderedhomogeneous up to a certain degree in an upstream mixing stage,optionally prior to being charged into the breakdown stage.

As stated above, it may be advantageous, depending on the composition,for the refuse supplied to be broken down by way of preparation in apreliminary step. In a development of the invention, it may, in thisregard, be expedient when ferromagnetic components are removed from thematter to be treated by magnetic separation prior to and/or after thebreakdown by means of water. Said ferromagnetic components essentiallyinclude tin plate packaging, the mass ratio of which may amount up to30% in the refuse supplied. As a result of the prior separation from thematter to be treated, the subsequent wet breakdown process isconsiderably simplified.

Depending on the quality and composition of the waste matter, it may beexpedient, according to a development of the process according to theinvention, for the matter to be treated to be subjected to a dryseparation process prior to being broken down with water. As a resulthereof, it is possible for a number of material groups, which wouldinterfere with the wet breakdown process, to be removed in a preliminarystep from the matter to be broken down subsequently in a wet process.These material groups include fine matter essentially comprising stones,glass, sand, organic waste matter and the like and the foil componentincluded in the plastics components.

In developing the process according to the invention, it is expedient inthis regard for the sorting separation to be carried out in at least asingle step by screening and/or air separation, and essentially for onlythose parts of the groups obtained by separation which are to be brokendown by means of water to be added to water for breaking down.

In addition to a sorting separation by means of screening and/or airseparation, and within the concept of a dry preliminary process, it isalso possible for specific components to be separated systematicallyfrom the waste matter, for example beverage cartons and/or PET bottles.A systematic separation of this kind is possible when using a so-calledauto-sort system, whereby the components to be eliminated from theloosened continuously advancing waste matter are identified via infraredmeasuring, and are then automatically eliminated, for example, by meansof compressed air. It is possible for an auto-sort apparatus of thiskind to be designed to comprise multiple steps such that it is possible,for example, for beverage cartons first and then the above-mentioned PETbottles to be eliminated. The remaining portion is then directed to thewet breakdown process.

The invention will be described in more detail, by way of example, withreference to flow charts in which:

FIG. 1 shows the basic process; and

FIG. 2 shows the basic process including a preliminary processing stage.

The exemplified embodiment in respect of the basic process asillustrated by the flow chart of FIG. 1 and described in more detailhereinafter has been designed with the objective that, if at allpossible, all the reusable components in the matter to be treated beseparated from one another and be directed for recycling. Depending onprevailing factors, it is possible for the breakdown process to be“interrupted” at predetermined points along the flow chart.

The matter to be broken down comprises waste matter, which containscomponents which are, at least partially, reusable, essentially beingmetals, plastics material and board, in particular foil-coated board,and which is supplied, for example during waste disposal, in theso-called “yellow bins” or “yellow bags”, and which is also produced inloose form in the stations for sorting this material. When the supply ismainly by way of bags, the first step involves tearing open the bags,while this does not constitute a step in the process. Although this isnot actually essential, as will be explained hereinafter, it isadvantageous.

The waste matter, which is supplied in a more or less densely packedbed, is first directed across a magnetic separator 1 in whichferromagnetic parts are substantially removed from the matter to betreated. The core concept of the process is a so-called wet step forbreaking down the waste matter. The waste matter from the magneticseparator 1 or from a preceding dry separation process are, in eachcase, charged in predetermined charge quantities into a water bath,formed by a container 2. In the bottom region of the container 2, amotor-driven rotating agitator 3 is provided and this exerts acorresponding force on the content of the container. As a result of theaction of the force, on the one hand, the liquid part is stirred in themanner of a toroidal flow stream, thereby dragging along the solidcomponents of all kinds, i.e. not only the plastics materials, but alsothe other heavy components and, in particular, the non-ferrous metalcomponents, repeatedly enter the sphere of influence of the agitator. Inso doing, any relatively large solid components, for example plasticbottles, aluminium cans or composite board/foil beverage packaging, arebroken up mechanically, such that they have a maximum size of about 300mm, depending on the duration of the treatment. The paper and boardcomponents, in particular the composite board/foil packaging, are, onthe one hand, completely separated from each other, due to the constantcirculation in the water bath and, on the other hand, the boardcomponent and other paper and board components in the matter to betreated, are dissolved to form fibres. The operating period of theagitator is determined according to the degree of breakdown sought, andit is possible for this to be assessed visually, with some experience,by the colour of the suspension as it forms. At least after completionof the agitation procedure, the heavy materials contained in the treatedmatter and, in particular, the non-ferromagnetic metal components, forthe greater part sink to the bottom of the container 2, whence they aredesigned to be withdrawn separately via a corresponding discharge gate4. The suspension is drained from the container 2 via a discharge valve5 and is directed to a separating means 6.

Since the matter to be treated is supplied to the container 2 inbatches, it is possible to conduct a preliminary optical control of thebasic composition. If such a control were to reveal that the chargedmatter to be treated contained, for example, plastics components heavilycoated with food remnants, for example yoghurt cups or the like, it ispossible for the charged matter to be stirred in the water bath via theagitator 3 with only a minimal force, thereby washing said matter, butwithout a reduction in size taking place at this stage. The washingwater is then drained off via the discharge valve and is taken fortreatment of the water. Thereupon, the container is again filled withwater, such that it is then possible for the previously describedprocedure to be carried out. If it were to be established that thecharged matter contains very many sealed plastics containers, forexample bottles and/or canisters, then the container 2 is first filledonly with water and the agitator 3 is briefly operated at a high speed,such that a greater force is provided for breaking open the plasticscontainers. Subsequently, the agitator 3 continues to operate at anormal speed.

In the separating means 6, which is, for example, at least one drumscreen, the coarsely crushed solids, which are essentially plasticsparts, are separated from the remaining suspension.

It is subsequently possible for the suspension, depending on thematerials which it contains, to be drained and to be disposed of orincinerated in the form of a sludge.

When the board component is, however, substantial, it is expedient whenthe suspension is first directed via a fibre separating means 7, forexample a tumbling screen or a curved screen, in which the fibrouscomponent is separated from the remaining solid components. It is thenpossible for the fibrous component to be drained by means of a press 8and to be directed, as a valuable material, to the production of boardor paper. The remaining suspension collected in the fibre separatingmeans 7 is then drained and is withdrawn in the form of sludge. It ispossible for the draining operation to be a single-stage or adouble-stage operation, as illustrated herein, via a decker 9 and adecanter 10.

Since the most important factor in the process is that the plasticsmaterials be recovered from the waste matter in the purest possibleform, any quantities of suspension still adhering after the separationfrom the suspension are rinsed off in the separating means 6, usingclean water, such that it is possible for the mixed plastics materialcollected to be as clean as possible when directed for furtherprocessing. Since the plastics parts are predominantly in the form offlat particles, due to the reduction in size, and are therefore disposedin layers one on top of the other, a rearranging is carried out in theseparating means, and this may be carried out mechanically, for exampleby using a drum screen and/or by introducing compressed water, such thatit is possible to ensure a substantial rinsing of any adheringsuspension as a result of the impact of the jet forces of the rinsingwater introduced, optionally in conjunction with the mechanical forces.

Depending on the recycling options available, it is now possible for themixed plastics material thus cleaned and withdrawn from the separatingmeans 6 to be directed immediately to a recycling step.

In view of the fact that the mixed plastics material collected is,however, very heterogeneous in its specific composition, it may beexpedient, with a view to a more thorough and more extensive recycling,for this mixed plastics material to be separated into two furthergroups, the separation of the polyolefin plastics from this mixedplastics material being of particular interest.

Depending on the separating process used, it may now be expedient forthe plastics parts, which are collected from the separating means 6 in arelatively coarse form, to be comminuted to individual sizes of about 30mm in at least one downstream comminuting means 11 which is designed,for example, to be a slowly running cutting comminution means.

If a further comminution is required for the subsequent separatingprocess, it is possible for a comminution to an individual size of about10 mm to about 5 mm to be carried out in a further cutting mill, whichthen operates at a faster speed.

This mixed plastics material is then directed to a separating means 12,for example a gravimetric floatation separating means, which is set at aseparating density of 1 g/cm³. Because of the small difference indensities of the individual types of plastics material, it may beexpedient in this regard when the gravimetric floatation separationprocess is carried out in a centrifugal field, for example in anappropriately designed solid bowl centrifuge. In the separating means12, the polyolefin plastics materials are withdrawn as the floatingmatter 13. The deposited matter 14 then, in turn, contains the remainingplastics groups, in particular polycarbonate, polystyrene, polyethyleneterephthalate and polyvinyl chloride, in the form of a mixed plasticsmaterial, and aluminium in the container 2 which is flushed out prior tosettling.

Since the heavy matter separated in the container 2 as a rule has a highaluminium content, and since it is also possible for aluminiumcomponents to be contained in the remaining matter, as a result of apossible greater degree of comminution, it is expedient when not onlythe heavy matter withdrawn from the container 2, but also the remainingmatter withdrawn after the separation 12, is passed via an eddycurrent-type separator 15, in which the aluminium and the content of anyother nonmagnetic metals are separated off. It is then possible for theremaining residual matter to be disposed of or incinerated.

If it is intended to continue with the recycling of the residual matterdischarged from the eddy current-type separator 15, it is expedient toseparate the polyvinyl chloride plastics component contained in saidresidual matter, since the polyvinyl chloride component may have anadverse effect on the further processing of the remaining plasticsmaterials collected. To this end, the remaining matter 16 dischargedfrom the eddy current-type separator 15 is first loosened in afluidized-bed conditioning step 17 and, subsequently, exposed in afree-fall separator 18 to an electrostatic field in which, when theselectivity is appropriately adjusted, it is possible for the polyvinylchloride group to be withdrawn via the delivery means 19, together witha certain quantity of remaining plastics material. It is then possiblefor the remaining mixed plastics material, which then essentiallycomprises polycarbonates, polystyrenes and polyethylene terephthalates,to be directed toward further recycling as a plastics product.

In the event that a further breakdown is desirable in respect of thisresidual component of mixed plastics material, it is also possible tocarry out a further division, for example, by means of a pneumatictable, into a light fraction, essentially containing polystyrene, and aheavy fraction containing the remaining matter.

In the event that the ferromagnetic components have already been removedfrom the charged matter by magnetic separation and, accordingly, theremaining plastics materials withdrawn from the separating means 6practically contain only aluminium parts (if these have not already beenseparated off with the heavy matter), it is also possible for thesealuminium parts to be removed prior to the separation 12. In thisregard, use is made of the considerable difference in density betweenthe aluminium and the plastics materials. Accordingly, it is possiblefor the separation to be carried out in a preceding gravimetricfloatation separation, for example in the manner of a settling process16, optionally assisted by upwardly flowing water. In so doing, it isthen possible to dispense with the procedure whereby the depositedmatter from the second gravimetric floatation separation 12 is admittedto the eddy current-type separator 15.

It is possible for the removal of the non-magnetizable metal parts fromthe remaining matter 14 to be carried out by means of a corona rollerseparator, instead of an eddy current-type separator.

FIG. 2 shows a flow chart of a variation of the basic process describedabove. The difference with respect to the process described withreference to FIG. 1 resides in that the socalled wet stage I is precededby a dry preliminary preparation stage II. The waste matter, deliveredin the form of a more or less dense bed, such as is collected, forexample, behind a packing opener, which is not illustrated herein, isplaced, for separation, on a first screen 21 which has a mesh width, forexample, of 180 to 200 mm. The screenings, in the form of medium andfine matter, are admitted to a magnetic separator 22 in order toseparate the ferromagnetic metals. Thereupon, the medium and fine matteris placed on a second screen 23 having a screening profile of up to 20mm. The screenings 24 collected at this point and essentially comprisingstones, sand, glass and organic matter, are withdrawn as matter fordisposal. It is possible, although not necessary, for the heavy mattercollected at this stage to be passed across a so-called auto-sortapparatus 26, by means of which it is possible, using optical processesvia infrared measuring, to pick out automatically from the flow streamof waste matter, for example, beverage cartons as wastage 27, andspecial plastics materials, for example PET bottles, as wastage 28. Theremaining residue is then directed to the wet stage I, where it isbroken down according to the basic process as described with referenceto FIG. 1.

The coarse matter separated off in the first screening stage 21 isdirected to an air separation 29, in which light matter 30, essentiallybeing large-sized plastic foils, are separated.

The heavy matter collected during the air separation 29 is optionallydirected to a magnetic separator 31, for separating the coarseferromagnetic component, and is subsequently admitted to the wet stageI.

Since the light matter 30 which is collected during the air separation29 and essentially comprises foils, comprises only large-surfaced foilsand/or large-surfaced composite materials of plastics material andboard, it is sufficient for these to be pre-comminuted in a comminutionstep 32 and then to be admitted to a wet stage III which, as far asdesign and function are concerned, corresponds to the wet stage I.

The suspension, which is obtained in the wet stage III and essentiallycomprises fibre pulp, is directed to the fibre separating means 7, whichforms part of the wet stage I, and is treated appropriately in themanner as described with reference to FIG. 1.

The solid component, which is obtained in the wet stage III and is alsoin the form of a mixed plastics material, is first precomminuted in acomminution step 11.1 and is then divided into at least two fractions ina separating means 12.1, in the manner described with reference to FIG.1 for the corresponding process step of the wet stage I as describedabove.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, it is possible for the comminution means 11 ofthe wet stage I to be followed by a so-called heavy-matter trap 33 fromwhich the heavy matter 34 is added to the heavy matter withdrawn via thedischarge means 4 of the container 2, and is then directed via a furthermagnetic separator 35. As described with reference to FIG. 1, theoverflow from the magnetic separator 35 is directed to an eddycurrent-type separator 15, by means of which it is then possible toseparate the aluminium and any other non-magnetic metals possiblycontained therein.

It is also possible for the corresponding allocation of the heavy-mattertrap 33 and of the additional magnetic separator 35 to be provided inthe basic process according to FIG. 1.

Likewise, it is also possible to include the preparation means describedabove with reference to FIG. 1 and connected downstream of the eddycurrent-type separator 15.

What is claimed is:
 1. Process for the treatment of waste matter whichcontains components which are at least partially reusable, whichcomponents comprise mainly metals, plastics materials and board, whichprocess comprises (1) agitating the waste matter to be treated in waterin a container containing an agitator, with the application ofmechanical force, whereby parts of the components comprising mainlyplastics material, are coarsely reduced in size, and components,comprising mainly cardboard and paper board, form a suspension in thewater, wherein the suspension contains fine solids and coarse solidmatter of said components comprising mainly plastics material, cardboardand paper board, (2) mechanically separating metal components, as heavymatter, and remaining solids, from the suspension, (3) withdrawing thesuspension containing said components comprising mainly plasticsmaterial, cardboard and paper board from said container, (4) separatingthe suspended fine solids from the suspension by draining, and (5)separating the coarse solid matter from the suspension.
 2. Processaccording to claim 1, wherein after separation from the suspension, thecoarse solid matter is rinsed with clean water.
 3. Process according toclaim 2, wherein the coarse solid matter is separated into at least twofractions according to their density in at least one gravimetricflotation separation process.
 4. Process according to claim 3, whereinthe gravimetric flotation separation process is adjusted such thatpolyolefin plastics materials are withdrawn as the floating matter. 5.Process according to claim 4, wherein the gravimetric flotationseparation process is carried out in a centrifugal field.
 6. Processaccording to claim 5, wherein the coarse solids are subjected to atleast one further reduction in size prior to their admission to thegravimetric flotation separation process.
 7. Process according to claim6, wherein the fraction remaining after said gravimetric flotationseparation process and metal components are exposed to an eddy currentfield, and, in doing so, nonmagnetic metal components mainly comprisingaluminum, are separated off, leaving metal-free deposited matter ofplastics materials.
 8. Process according to claim 1, wherein themetal-free deposited matter is loosened up in a fluidized bed and,subsequently, PVC-components of said plastics materials aresubstantially separated off in an electrostatic free-fall separatorleaving PVC-less deposited matter.
 9. Process according to claim 8,wherein the PVC-less deposited matter is divided into at least twofractions in at least one density-based separation step.
 10. Processaccording to claim 1, wherein the heavy matter separated out of thesuspension is exposed to an eddy current field and, in doing so,non-magnetic metal components mainly comprising aluminium, are separatedoff.
 11. Process according to claim 2, wherein after the separation ofthe coarse solids, a fibrous material component derived from saidcardboard and paperboard is separated out of the suspension and isdrained.
 12. Process according to claim 1, wherein breakdown of thematter to be treated is carried out in batches by agitation in a waterbath, the degree of breakdown being determined according to the durationof the agitation.
 13. Process according to claim 12, wherein breakdownof the matter to be treated is carried out in batches by agitation in atleast two successive water baths.
 14. Process according to claim 1,wherein breakdown of the matter to be treated is carried outcontinuously in through-flow by agitation in water.
 15. Processaccording claim 1, wherein prior to and/or after breaking down by thewater, ferromagnetic components are removed from the matter to betreated by magnetic separation.
 16. Process according to claim 1,wherein the matter to be treated is subjected to a dry preliminaryprocessing step prior to its admission for breaking down by water. 17.Process according to claim 1, wherein the separation is carried out inat least one stage by screening and/or air separation and in thatessentially only those parts which are to be broken down by water of thefractions obtained from the separation are introduced into the water.